REMEMBERING CELIA by CHERYL PIERSON

Last month, many of us lost a dear friend, Celia Yeary. She was a woman I had never met in “real life” – but I felt like I’d known her forever, and I'm sure many of you felt the same way.

Celia and I were published within a few months of one another in 2009 (she was first!) by The Wild Rose Press. We went through that “first publishing experience” together, and I hope I was as good a sounding board for her as she was for me. It was comforting to have another new author to talk to about what was going on with our first “babies” being published and pushed out into the cruel world.

Celia was “a bit” older than I, and a wonderful combination of big sis/surrogate mom in a lot of ways—but most of all, she was a dear friend.

We talked about everything over the years. I always admired Celia’s determination and her courage to face whatever life threw her way. She chalked it up to being a fifth-generation Texan, and that might have been part of it, but I believe most of her inner strength came from deep within herself—no matter where she had been born and raised.

Celia went to college AFTER she was married and had small children—and that had to be tough. But she persevered. She received her BS in biology and went on for her Master’s degree in education. She taught school for many years and told me how she loved it, and how she missed it after retirement.

I knew Celia after that phase of her life was past, and we shared our passion for writing. We both wrote western romance stories, and loved to talk about our characters, and run scenes by one another. Celia was very meticulous in her writing process—more of a plotter than I am. We talked about everything under the sun along with our writing conversations. I treasured seeing her name pop up in my INBOX—she always made me laugh.

When we learned she had passed away, I felt like the world became a “dimmer” place—and of course, that’s true. Celia was one of the brightest stars I have ever known. I miss her. She was one of those people that is truly unforgettable, though I can hear her in my mind saying, “Me? Lands sakes, why would you say that?”

One of the main things I’ll always remember about Celia is her big heart. All you have to do is read one of her books and you’ll see it shine through. She spoke through her characters, and as all writers do, put some of herself into the people she created in her stories. She often told me this book, WISH FOR THE MOON, was the "book of my heart" and how glad she was to have it in print. I understood why--there is a LOT of Celia in these characters!

Her birthday was this past Saturday, August 25. Hard to believe she’s gone, but she’ll always be in my heart—a dear friend that I was so lucky to have known.

WOMEN'S CLOTHING AND FIRE HAZARDS

Caroline Clemmons filling in for Celia Yeary

When Jo March scorched her dress in Louisa Mae Alcott's LITTLE WOMEN, it seemed almost a joke, especially when she admitted it wasn’t an unusual occurrence. Actually, fire was not a friend to long skirts and petticoats of that time period. Many fabrics, especially for summer, were loosely woven to allow air to cool the wearer. Men, whose garments were constructed of less flammable and tightly woven fabric, were not so likely to be involved.

These dangerous feminine materials included cotton muslin, gauze, and tarlatan. They also appeared whiter and almost gossamer by candlelight, emphasizing that women are perfect, delicate, ephemeral beings. The very construction that made them popular also made them deadly. If there was crinoline in their petticoat, the flammability was increased several times.

Dancers by Edgar Degas
example of ephemeral fabric

In July 1861, Fanny, the wife of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, was seated at her library table amusing her two youngest children when a spark caught her dress. She was engulfed in flames before her husband could save her and died the following day. I can’t imagine the horror her children and husband witnessed.

Oscar Wilde’s two half-sisters died of burns when one went too close to a fire while wearing a ball gown and the other rushed to help her. 

In an article for Racked, Rae Nudson reported that in the mid-19^th century, women wearing the style ballgown of the day could burst into fire. Their dresses were so dangerously flammable that if they caught fire, it would spread in an instant, sometimes leading to groups of women dying at the same time. 

“It’s not a build-up like, ‘Oh my gosh, you’re smoking, let me tamp that out.’ It’s like, ‘Ahh! Your girlfriend beside you is a ball of fire, and you’re now a ball of fire, and boom boom boom boom boom, they’re all balls of fire.’ Says Dierdre Kelly, author of Ballerina: Sex, Scandal, and Suffering Behind The Symbol of Perfection.

Since cotton muslin was a common dress fabric in the West, one can extend the hazard to our early settlers.  Especially for women cooking over an open fire/fireplace, this would have led to many injuries and fatalities. Life was filled with so many dangers that it's a wonder our ancestors lived long enough to pass their genes on to us.

Fabric hazards didn’t stop with the 19^th century. In the 1960s a coworker of my mother’s was ironing clothes for her and her husband to wear to work that day. Her synthetic nightgown touched her iron. The fabric ignited instantly and melted to her body before her husband could reach her. She died of her injuries that day.

Many of us can remember when flame retardant fabric became available for children's pajamas and then for Halloween costumes. Thank heavens that danger has diminished. 

Throughout history, women have subjected themselves to fashion hazards. In all probability, no one thought what she was doing would prove dangerous. That was just the style of the day. Today, we can still get ‘burned’ for our clothing, but ours is not so literal.

Sources:

http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20150624-when-fashion-kills  

https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2016/10/dress-hat-fashion-clothing-mercury-arsenic-poison-history/ 

https://www.racked.com/2017/12/19/16710276/burning-dresses-history by Rae Nudson  

Caroline Clemmons is the author of DANIEL McCLINTOCK, now available at http://amzn.to/2J14ukP 

Five star reviews include: 

"Oh I thoroughly enjoyed this forth book in the McClintock series! I felt so sorry for Daniel at the end of the last book. I should have known Caroline Clemmons would give him his own book. She sent to him an angel in the form of Clara. She was spunky and confident, just what he needed to want to care again about a future. I enjoyed this storyline, so different from others and her characters are always so likeable, it's fun to follow them to their HEA."

VILLAINS AND TREACHERY--BEWARE THE IDES OF MARCH!--by Cheryl Pierson #blogabookscene #prairierosepub

Oh, how I love a good villain! Whether I’m reading about one or watching him/her on film, or best of all—WRITING ONE!

What makes a good villain? Well, in my opinion, first and foremost he can’t be one-dimensional. I know in our “real world” there are those people that seem to be evil just for the sake of it and some of them probably are. But in our reading/writing, we want to know WHY. What made this person turn out like he did—a diabolical, cunning, demonic person that will stop at nothing to accomplish what he’s set out to do?

This leads to the question, is there anything at all that would stop him from carrying out his evil plans? Would a memory stop him, or trigger him? Would any one person be able to reason with him? Would a “new plan” divert him from carrying out the blueprint for disaster for the hero/heroine that he’s already come up with?
But there are other things that have to be reckoned with. Those things that might have happened to him in his past to create and mold him into the kind of person who would be so bold and determined to use anything—no matter how it hurts others—to his own advantage are important. But what are the factors that drive him presently? A circumstance of opportunity? A long-seated need for revenge and the path to that revenge being presented? Greed? Burning jealousy? Maybe even the death of a loved one that he may not have wanted to embarrass by his actions while they were still living—now that they’re gone, all bets are off!

THE DEVIL AND MISS JULIA JACKSON has the heroine caught between a distant relative who throws her and her niece out of their home and the job as nursemaid she takes in Indian Territory, working for a man who is, at first, cold and unresponsive. The villain in this story shifts between the man who threw Julia out of her home to someone else who means to destroy her employer.



I’ve had so many villains I’ve created in my writing that were motivated by different things. My first one, Andrew Fallon, appeared in FIRE EYES. He was just pure evil. He didn’t care about anything or anyone—even his family, as his brother found out when he came looking for him.

In TIME PLAINS DRIFTER, the villain is paranormal—a demon who can shape-shift. How in the world will the innocents he’s after survive? They have a reluctant angel or two on their side, but the demon is powerful. Can they overcome his strength?

In my first contemporary romantic suspense, SWEET DANGER, Tabor Hardin has his revenge handed to him on a silver platter, being in the right place at the right time to turn the tables on the undercover cop who put him in jail—before his escape. He’s a man with nothing to lose at this point, and Jesse Nightwalker, the cop, has a new life hovering on the horizon—if he can survive.



Greed comes in to play in BEYOND THE FIRE, when undercover DEA agent Jackson Taylor’s cover is blown and a drug lord comes after him, trying to use Jack’s undercover partner against him. But there is a secret that even Jack hasn’t known about his partner—and the woman he’s falling in love with. Is it enough to defeat the powerful drug cartel and keep Jackson, Kendi, and his partner safe?

Treachery comes in all forms and it’s most often quite a surprise. No matter how vigilant our heroes are, they come up against some very foreboding, sharp cunning from the villains—after all, they have to have a worthy opponent, right?

Speaking of worthy opponents, I’ll talk a little about my contemporary romantic suspense CAPTURE THE NIGHT—where the villain, Kieran McShane, runs his own rogue faction of the Irish Republican Army and plans to murder Great Britain’s Prime Minister while he’s on vacation in Dallas. Johnny Logan is an undercover Dallas cop, staying in the hotel as added protection for the prime minister; Alexa Bailey is treating herself to a one-year divorce anniversary vacation. When McShane takes over the entire hotel, it’s only a matter of time before he discovers them up on the roof in the maintenance housing—and collateral damage means nothing to him. With the hostages brought to the roof, McShane threatens to begin throwing them over one by one—unless his demands are met. Can Johnny and Alexa survive the whims of a madman, bent on political revenge?


One of my favorite recent stories is SABRINA, one of four novels that appears in the boxed set MAIL ORDER BRIDES FOR SALE: THE REMINGTON SISTERS. Four sisters are at the mercy of their stepfather who plans to sell them to the highest bidder now that their mother is dead. But these girls have other plans. Can they manage to get away? Will they be able to keep themselves safe from Josiah Bloodworth no matter how far away they go? This is a very fun set of four full length novels, each sister’s story penned by a different author. Livia Washburn Reasoner—Lizzy; Jacquie Rogers—Belle; Celia Yeary—Lola; and Cheryl Pierson—Sabrina.

Here's an excerpt of Sabrina facing down the villain, her stepfather, in the dressmaker's shop. Cam is listening to it all from the back, waiting for his chance to save her, his sister, and the proprietor of the shop. Here's what happens:

“So you see, dear Sabrina, you have no true choice about what you do—and neither do your sisters.” Bloodworth spread his hands as he spoke. “You will, indeed, come home to Pennsylvania from this godforsaken place and do exactly as you are told. You will marry a man—a proper gentleman—of my choosing.” He took a step closer to her.

She faced him unflinchingly, her head held high. “I will no more return to Philadelphia with you than fly to the moon. You would do well to carry your pompous, maggot-ridden self away from here and get as far east as you can go posthaste—before my husband returns for us—and sends you straight to hell.” She spoke as regally as a queen to the lowliest dregs of society, without a trace of fear.

A thin smile touched Bloodworth’s lips, but the calm iciness in his pale eyes was what put Cam on alert. This man was determined, and he believed no one could stop him.

His muscle-bound cohort stood near the door, keeping watch so that Bloodworth didn’t need to worry about any distractions—from the two other women, or from any of the townspeople.

“My dear Sabrina, you are most definitely going to do exactly as I tell you. Or else.”

“Else what? You’ll drag me back by my hair like the brute that you truly are?”

Bloodworth chuckled. “Well, well. Our little Sabrina has come into her own, hasn’t she?” He stroked his chin. “Actually, I don’t believe I shall have to drag you back. I think you most likely will do anything I say once I lay my hands on that half-breed husband of yours…even if I tell you to climb up on this counter and spread your legs like the whore you are…just like your mother was—”

The slap Sabrina gave Bloodworth echoed through the room, and brought a spot of blood to the corner of his mouth. Unruffled, he took out his handkerchief and dabbed at it.

“I’m going to kill your husband, Sabrina Rose. It will be a long…slow…and very, very painful death. And you will have only yourself to blame."


So many wonderful reasons for becoming a villain! The motivations are just endless, aren’t they? It’s a fine line to walk, making them evil, yet sympathetic in some instances, and letting our readers see a glimpse of their humanity—if they have any left.

Do you have a favorite villain you’ve written or read? What about your favorite film villain?

PRAIRIE ROSE PUBLICATIONS WEBSITE: https://www.prairierosepublications.com

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/cheryl.pierson.92

CHERYL'S AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE:https://www.amazon.com/Cheryl-Pierson/e/B002JV8GUE/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1520475061&sr=8-2-ent

HOW WRITING SHORT CAN ADD A SPARK TO YOUR IMAGINATION! by Cheryl Pierson

Hi everyone! It’s near the end of February, thank goodness, and March is right around the corner. I have never been a “winter” person, and it seems like the older I get the less I like to see the approach of those cold, dreary winter months. We had our yearly ice storm—we get a lot of that here in Oklahoma—but it’s over!

Growing up, I don’t remember having “cabin fever”—I was always able to entertain myself with indoor activities—coloring, paper dolls, board games, reading, and yes, even writing. This winter I was asked to participate in a little writing exercise that was a lot of fun, and not my “norm” for my writing self.

The story was to be a western historical very short piece. Two sentences were given: The shot rang out. I heard her scream at the same time the bottle crashed to the floor.

These sentences had to be used in this exact form—without any modification. The only “change” that was useable was the fact that they could come anywhere in the story, as long as they came together as shown here. And the story must be 500 words long—no longer. Mine came in at 497—and let me tell you, that was not easy for me!
It’s been a long time since I was this excited over something different like this—just something fun to try. There will be 51 other participants as well, using these same two sentences. I’m so curious to see where this leads! The book will be sold, but none of us are anticipating getting rich from it—whatever royalties it garners will go into a scholarship fund for a young writer. For me, the rewards were huge.

Two men, waiting for something. One of them is in for a huge surprise. What about the other one? Will he make it out alive?

I had such fun with this! Here's a sneak peek at the first part of it—but remember, there'll be 51 other "takes" on these same sentences. I can hardly wait!

I Can Wait--Cheryl Pierson

“Let’s see…‘The shot rang out. I heard her scream at the same time the bottle crashed to the floor.’ That’s your story, right, fast gun?” Marshal Ferris smirked as he moved closer to the chair where his prisoner, Johnny Kilgore, was tied.

“Yeah,” Johnny muttered through split lips, blood streaming from the busted nose Ferris had given him. “It’s my story because that’s how it happened, pendejo.”
Ferris shot him a wary glance, unsure if he’d been insulted.

Johnny looked toward the narrow, barred window just in time to see a small hand disappear. Seeing things? Hoping for a miracle… He shook his head to clear it in the stifling air.

Ferris leaned down close, blocking Johnny’s view of the window. “You killed that woman, and you’re gonna admit it, you son of a bitch. We got all night. I can wait.” Ferris cracked his knuckles. Another vicious uppercut rocked Johnny’s head back. “You’re gonna write your confession.”

Who was the kid outside the window? Damn…why even think of that? I’ll be dead before midnight. There’s no help coming. No miracle for me…not this time… Wrong place, wrong time, just once too often…

He’d killed—but he’d never murdered a woman—especially not this one. Maria Lopez had been little more than a girl herself—and her scream from her upstairs room had been one of pure terror. By the time Johnny’d gotten to her, she was already dead. She wasn’t going to tell who did it, but Johnny had a fair idea from the dogged way Ferris kept after him about a confession.

Ferris crossed his arms. “It’s gonna be a long night. I got a powerful hunger. You just sit tight—I’ll be back after dinner. Just in time for you to confess…before you try to escape, and get killed doing it. Think about that while I’m gone,” he chortled as he walked away toward the outer office, banging the door shut like a death knell.



Oh, can't give away the ending, but wouldn't it be fun to do something different like this every so often, just to spice things up a little? I actually love writing prompts--I'd forgotten just how much until I was invited to participate in this collection. It'll be a while before this comes out, so I'll leave you with a link to my latest project, a boxed set called UNDER A WESTERN SKY which includes stories by Celia Yeary, Patti Sherry-Crews, Tracy Garrett, Kaye Spencer, Agnes Alexander and myself. It's a wonderful set and a great price--you can't go wrong!

https://www.amazon.com/Under-Western-Sky-Historical-Romance-ebook/dp/B078SGY1HW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1519781625&sr=8-1&keywords=under+a+western+sky

UNDER A WESTERN SKY BOXED SET NEW RELEASE AND GIVEAWAY! by Cheryl Pierson

I’m so thrilled! Prairie Rose Publications just released a fantastic boxed set—with SIX WHR novel-length stories included. Best of all? For a limited time, this collection is ONLY .99! Every one of these stories is a bold, exciting western read with (of course!) a wonderful romance at its core—take a look at UNDER A WESTERN SKY!

Where do the very best love stories blossom? UNDER A WESTERN SKY, of course! This fabulous boxed set of six tales of danger and romance are sure to capture your imagination as you are carried away to the old west. Handsome marshals, Texas Rangers, gunslingers, and wealthy landowners meet their matches with the daring women they happen to fall in love with, and you won’t want to put this boxed set down until you’ve read the very last story!

Authors Cheryl Pierson, Celia Yeary, Kaye Spencer, Tracy Garrett, Patti Sherry-Crews, and Agnes Alexander spin six incredible novel-length love stories filled with danger, excitement, and romance that will keep you turning page after incredible page until the very end. Saddle up and kick back for some excellent reading, as star-studded romance finds you UNDER A WESTERN SKY!

Though these stories are all different, they are all memorable, exciting, and the kind of tales you'll want to put on your "keeper" shelf. I'm so honored to have FIRE EYES alongside these other authors' stories. I'm giving away a digital copy of UNDER A WESTERN SKY today to a lucky commenter who answers this question: I'm very cold-natured and even with modern heating, in the winter, I'm still freezing! How would you have coped with an "old west" winter? Wrapped up in a quilt in front of the fire? Tried to "ignore" it? Tried to take your mind off of it somehow--maybe by knitting or cooking or something that would keep you from thinking of it? What would you have done?

FIRE EYES by Cheryl Pierson
Beaten and wounded by a band of sadistic renegades that rules the borderlands of Indian Territory, U.S. Marshal Kaed Turner understands what the inevitable outcome will be for him: death. But Fate and a war party of Choctaw Indians intervene, delivering him instead to a beautiful angel with the skill to heal him. Jessica Monroe has already lost a husband and a brother to these outlaws. Can she afford to gamble with her heart one last time?

ALL MY HOPES AND DREAMS by Celia Yeary
To escape an arranged marriage, beautiful, proper Cynthia Harrington impulsively marries Ricardo Romero, a sensual Spaniard who ranches on the edge of the Texas frontier. She struggles to gain a foothold in the hostile household, determined to make a place for herself—but will she also find a way to make her husband love her?

TEXAS GOLD by Tracy Garrett

Texas Ranger Jake McCain is hot on the trail of a band of murderous outlaws when they ambush him and leave him for dead in the blinding snow. The last thing Rachel Hudson expects the blizzard to bring is a wounded Ranger with a pack of trouble. She and Jake have more than a powerful mutual attraction in common—the dangerous gunmen he’s been chasing intend to steal Rachel and her brother, Nathan. But Jake’s not about to lose the woman who means everything to him—Rachel, his TEXAS GOLD…(Previously published as TOUCH OF TEXAS)

THE COMANCHERO’S BRIDE by Kaye Spencer
Beautiful heiress Elizabeth White is exiled to Texas until she agrees to marry the prominent politico her parents have chosen for her—Grayson Beal. When Elizabeth is approached at a fiesta by dark-eyed, handsome Mingo Valderas, her heart will never be her own again. But Mingo has a reputation as a Comanchero—a man who is as fast with his knives as he is with his gun. Still, Elizabeth gives her trust to him, and their whirlwind courtship begins. Beal will stop at nothing to claim Elizabeth—and only one man can protect her. Elizabeth and Mingo stay one step ahead of Beal…but will that be enough?

MARGARITA AND THE HIRED GUN by Patti Sherry-Crews

Pampered Margarita McIntosh is sent away by her father for her own safety—from what, she’s not sure. The long journey ahead and the secret she carries in her saddlebag could be the death of her. A rough Irish gunman, Rafferty, is entrusted with getting her to her destination—for a reward—his ticket to a new life. But will Rafferty’s protection be enough to save their lives? And will the heat of their passion seal their future—if they do survive?

XENIA’S RENEGADE by Agnes Alexander
An urgent plea for help from a family member calls for action from Xenia Poindexter and her sister. But traveling west to save their uncle, a raid on a stagecoach way station would have seen them dead if not for handsome half-Sioux rancher, Ty Eldridge. Ty wants to protect Xenia from her uncle’s schemes, but he’s been burned in the past by love. Though others say they’re all wrong for each other, Xenia has never felt more “right” than when she’s in Ty’s arms. Is true love worth the chance of becoming XENIA’S RENEGADE?

If you just can't wait to see if you won in the drawing, here's the buy link for UNDER A WESTERN SKY! At only .99, it's quite a bargain of wonderful reads to keep you warm on a winter's night!
https://www.amazon.com/Under-Western-Sky-Historical-Romance-ebook/dp/B078SGY1HW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1517075801&sr=8-1&keywords=Under+a+Western+Sky

UNDER A WESTERN SKY

BY CELIA YEARY

I have the pleasure of having a novel in the Prairie Rose Publishing boxed set titled: UNDER A WESTERN SKY. One of the other authors is Cheryl Pierson, whom I’ve known a long time. She and I met years ago when we were with the same publisher—who just happened to be releasing our new books close to the same time. What a thrill that was. Since then, Cheryl has risen to co-owning a wonderful publishing house called….PRAIRIE ROSE PUBLISHING.

All my books are now with her because my other publisher had to shut its doors because of illness. I was so happy with Publishing by Rebecca J. Vickery because she gave me my start. But life goes on when unavoidable changes occur..

The other authors are:

Agnes Alexander

Patti Sherry-Crews

Kaye Spencer

Tracy Garrett

PRAIRIE ROSE PUBLICATIONS has a fantastic deal for you right now! SIX FULL-LENGTH NOVELS for only .99! Our western historical romance boxed set, UNDER A WESTERN SKY, is up for pre-order today for this fantastic price--but it won't last long! Snap up these wonderful books by six of your favorite WHR authors--you won't want to miss these stories--and at this price, you can't lose!

https://www.amazon.com/Under-Western-Sky-His…/…/ref=sr_1_21…

MAIL ORDER BRIDES FOR SALE: THE REMINGTON SISTERS--AND A GIVEAWAY! by Cheryl Pierson

Why does the subject of mail order brides hold such an attraction for us as readers and as authors? Maybe we wonder if we could take such a chance.

What would make a woman leave everything familiar to her and travel to “parts unknown” to marry a man she knew nothing about? What’s scarier than online dating? Being a mail-order bride! Once they’d made the commitment to leave their homes behind—much to the consternation of many family members and friends, in some cases, I would imagine—the die was cast.

Livia J. Washburn, Celia Yeary, Jacquie Rogers and I decided we would write a boxed set of stories about four sisters--the Remington sisters--who were going to be virtually "sold" by their stepfather into loveless marriages for his benefit. After overhearing these plans--what could they do?

A woman would have to be certain in her own mind that what she was going to was better than what she was leaving behind. She would have to be resourceful enough to plan some kind of “exit strategy” if things didn’t work out. And I suppose, many times, women resigned themselves to the fact that they would become a soiled dove—the lowest of the low—in order to survive.

In spite of all the scenarios we might come up with for a mail-order bride to leave the life she had known behind her for something completely foreign to her, there are, I’m sure, many that we never could have even contemplated. For each story is personal, intimate, and heart-rending in its own right.

But our intrepid sisters come up with a scheme to get themselves to safety--and anything would be better than what their stepfather has planned for them--of that, they are certain.

Here's a bit about their background and each of the four sisters:

Brought up in the wealth and comfort of Eastern “old money” in staid and proper Philadelphia, the Remington sisters are forced to scatter to the four winds and become mail-order brides. In order to gain a fortune, their sinister step-father, Josiah Bloodworth, has made plans to marry them off in loveless marriages. Time is running out, and no matter what lies ahead in their uncertain futures, it has to be better than the evil they’re running from…

LIZZY: Livia J. Washburn
Elizabeth Remington’s world is turned upside down when she is forced to become a mail-order bride. With her cat, Fulton, Lizzy flees to Alaska—only to discover the man she’s to marry is not who she thought he was! Now, she must protect herself from the biggest danger of all—her own heart. Handsome Flint McKinnon has signed his soul away to her step-father, hasn’t he? He’s chased Lizzy across the continent, but can she believe him when he says he loves her?

BELLE: Jacquie Rogers
Belle Remington must marry someone before the dangerous Neville Fenster catches up with her. She hightails it out of Philadelphia to the wilds of Idaho Territory to become a bootmaker's bride, but when she arrives in Oreana, she discovers her groom has been murdered! Now, handsome, inebriated rancher Cord Callahan insists on fulfilling the marriage contract himself. Belle is beautiful and smart as a whip. But she has a secret. When Fenster shows up, can Cord protect the woman he wants to love forever?

SABRINA: Cheryl Pierson
Impulsive Sabrina Remington, the youngest, weds a man she knows her family would disapprove of. Though Cameron Fraser’s family owns a ranch in lawless Indian Territory, he’s made his way in the world with a gun, living barely on the right side of the law. With everything on the line as Bloodworth and his henchmen close in, will Cam be able to protect Sabrina from the desperate man who means to kidnap her for his own wicked purposes?

LOLA: Celia Yeary
Sensible Lola Remington, the eldest of the four sisters, must be certain the others are on their way to safety before she can think of fleeing Philadelphia herself. With the help of a local bridal agency, Lola finds the perfect husband for herself—in the wild countryside of Texas. Jack Rains owns a ranch and he’s in need of a bride—and children, of course! But just when Lola starts to believe there might be a future for them, she discovers a hidden letter from another woman…Jack’s first wife.

EXCERPT FROM SABRINA:

Both Cam and Sabrina have secrets--Cam has pretended to be his brother, Robert, in an effort to find out if Sabrina could care about him. Being half Cherokee is a burden he knows too well--and he knows he's got to have the right kind of wife to survive in Indian Territory. But Sabrina has not been entirely forthcoming with her situation, either. Let's take a look...

“I’d—I’d like an explanation,” she said frostily.

“And I’m gonna give you one, Sabrina. The best I can, any-how.” Cam raked a hand through his hair. “Let’s sit down over here—”

“No, thank you. I’ll stand.” Her voice was prim, proper, and as icy as a frozen pond in January.

Cam sighed, hooking his thumbs in his gun belt and tilting his head back to look at the night sky. “You’re not making this any easier.”

“No. I don’t intend to. You’ve deceived me. You’ve made me feel…foolish.” She let out a deep breath. With it went some of her anger. “I trusted you, C-Cameron.” It was still hard to think of him as “Cameron” rather than “Robert”—and it was going to take some getting used to.

Cam took a step toward the boulder he’d sat on earlier. “I’m sorry for that. It was wrong of me, ’Brina. But I had to be sure—”

“Sure? Of what? I’m the one who’s given up everything to come here to a place where I don’t know anyone—evidently, even my husband—to a land that is unfamiliar—”

“Sabrina, you haven’t given up everything. Even though, right now, you may not recognize it, I’m your best bet for any protection you might need.”

“From?”

He bent a dark, searching stare on her. “You’re running from someone—your stepfather, maybe others—there in Philadelphia. When they get here—”

Sabrina’s eyes were wide, and she felt the blood drain from her face. He hadn’t said “if”—he’d said “when”. He believed they were coming. It had been in the back of her mind, ever since she’d boarded the stage west, but to hear it voiced by Cam… Still, he didn’t really even know the full circumstances of her leaving Philadelphia…he couldn’t be sure she’d be followed.

“You believe they’ll follow…for certain.” She shuddered.

Cam’s expression changed, letting her know he’d only speculated up to now; her reaction had let him know he was right. “I’d like the full story. When you’re ready.”


Would you have what it takes to be a mail-order bride in the old west? I’m not sure I would, but it’s fun to think about--and write about. Leave me a comment to be entered to win a digital copy of MAIL ORDER BRIDES FOR SALE: THE REMINGTON SISTERS!

If you just can't wait to see if you won, here's the link!
https://www.amazon.com/Mail-Order-Brides-Sale-Remington-ebook/dp/B0776X5S9D/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1514402034&sr=8-1&keywords=The+Remington+Sisters

WHERE HAVE ALL THE HEROES GONE?

Let's face it, heroes these days have a difficult time staying on their pedestals.
Some heroes seem destined to become one, but we, the public, are often to blame for awarding the title to the wrong people or those who don't really qualify.

A hero is an everyday person who can change the world for the better. It could be a simple act such as helping one person out or by helping millions. There are big heroes known for a particular event, and there are small everyday types of heroes.
However, I think we overuse the term so that the word truly has little meaning.

What makes a hero?
Nelson Mandela was a true hero in every sense of the word.

But suppose I say my mother was a hero because she dutifully followed my daddy all over West and North Texas while he followed the work in the oil fields? She kept us fed, clothed, and happy. She went without a home of her own so we'd all be together.
Even though I loved and appreciated my mother, truthfully she does not come close to being a hero in the same category as Nelson Mandela. In fact, few people are.
But to me? She was a heroine, and my daddy was a hero.

Men, women, and even children are recognized all over our country

on a daily basis as being a "hero."

~*~A sick child with a positive attitude.

~*~A man who catches a baby falling from a third story window.

~*~All the firefighters who battle the mountain forest fires.

~*~The SWAT team who rescued hostages.

~*~A little girl who saves a kitten from a drain pipe.

History has given us time to ferret out true heroes of battles, wars, and liberations. Some have been proven to have clay feet after all.

Perhaps labeling a person a Hero lays a burden on his/her shoulders. How can a person live up to being a hero on a daily basis?

In romance novels, the hero is the important character. The heroine has a great role, too, but it's the male hero on which we focus.

Lucky for us, we have a definite list of What Makes a Western Hero.

Courteous, respectful attitude toward women.
A loner. No close friends, no personal conversations

Rugged face; seldom smiles
Excellent shot

Brave

One companion, usually his horse

Hates rude people and will put them in their place
Great fighter - uses fists

Accepts all races

Traits of a typical Hemingway Hero are:

A love of good times, stimulating surroundings, and strict moral rules, including honesty.
The Hemingway Hero always exhibits some form of a physical wound that serves as his tragic flaw and the weakness of his character.
A Few Texas Heroes:
Stephen F. Austin
Sam Houston
Jack C. Hays
Lorenza de Zavala
Some Heroes of the Cinema:
Atticus Finch-To Kill a Mockingbird-Gregory Peck
Will Kane-High Noon-Gary Cooper
Tom Joad-The Grapes of Wrath-Henry Ford
Rooster Cogburn-True Grit-John Wayne

I'm particularly searching for a true modern hero. We expect our politicians, leaders of any kind, military personnel, and some dissenters to be hero material. Goodness knows, we can't expect that across the board.

Where have all the good ones gone?

Maybe I should lower my expectations of a true hero.

In fact, the heroes I create most often are flawed. I've even written one who abused the woman a little, but I redeemed him, and made him ashamed of what he did. Not one reader ever mentioned that perhaps he was not a good hero.

I think we all know heroes are made, not born, and it's not an easy task to expect one to be 100% true to the calling of a hero.
***

At this moment, my three Texas novels are on special for 99cents each.

The hero in each of these is different.

TEXAS BLUE--the hero is Buck Cameron, the town's "favorite" son, good to everyone, does his job, and stays out of trouble. However, the villain blackmails Buck into a deed he'd rather not do...but he does. The story gets complicated.

TEXAS PROMISE--the hero is Dalton King, son of one of the prominent families in the same town. Yet, he hurts his new bride by running away to join the Texas Rangers. Again...it's complicated.

TEXAS TRUE--the hero is Sam Deleon, and while he might be redeemed eventually, he is a liar, a conniver, and cold. He's the one who was most difficult to redeem...but he did finally come around.

These books may be found on my Amazon page:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/celiayeary 

Celia Yeary…

Romance, and a little bit of Texas

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/celiayeary

My Website

My Blog

Sweethearts of the West-Blog

My Facebook Page

JOSIAH WILBARGER, A SCALPING, AND A GHOST

 With this post, I hope to prove to one and all that I can tell a horror story and ghost story--all wrapped up in one event--without scaring myself. 
I can do this.

The story is about a Texan named Josiah Wilbarger who was one of the early settlers of Austin, Texas. Some dispute exists where he had lived before, but probably it was Indiana or Missouri.

ONION CREEK IN PRESENT DAY

He settled near the Colorado River where there is a bend called Hornsby Bend, named for Reuben Hornsby. Today this bend is close to an area between Austin and San Marcos called Onion Creek.

In 1820, Hornsby and his family had built a blockhouse fort there, and a small settlement grew up around it. Josiah Wilbarger spent time at the fort and soon became enamored with one of the Hornsby daughters.

Since Wilbarger was single man and a frontiersman, he hired himself out as a guide to surveyors and land scouts in the wild area west of Austin. However, he made one fatal mistake, and that was to take the same route every day into the open land that was free for the taking.

When a man begins to use the same route every day, he becomes predictable. A good and capable scout would know to vary his route often. Failing to do so put him and the men he led in serious trouble. They became vulnerable to ambush.

On one fateful day, a group of Comanche warriors approached Wilbarger's party and began shooting. Two men escaped, but the rest of the party were shot, including Wilbarger.

He was hit in the neck by a large-caliber musket ball. It apparently bruised his spine, temporarily paralyzing his entire body. Although conscious, he was unable to move or even blink his eyes. This method was called "creasing" if used intentionally.

The Indians stripped him naked except for one sock on one foot.

SIDE NOTE:

"Creasing" a Wild Horse consisted of shooting a bullet so that it strikes the animal on the top of the neck just in front of the ears and about an inch or so deep close to the spinal column. The shock stunned the horse, and the hunter ran up and tied the animal's feet together before it recovered.

Some advocated this method of capturing a mustang, but more often than not, the act killed or maimed the horse such that it had to be put down in the end.

****

Wilbarger suffered these same symptoms after being struck by a musket ball. To others, he appeared dead. Luckily, this act saved his life.

As a writer and researcher, I was surprised the Comanche had guns in addition to bows and arrows. Also, some accounts say the Indians were Kickapoo--not Comanche.

The Indians began to strip and scalp the men. When it came Wilbarger's turn, he did not feel pain, but only pressure on his scalp where the Indian cut around the hair and skin he intended to remove.

Wilbarger later related he heard a sound 'like distant thunder" as the scalp was ripped away. He said he looked into the Indian's eyes the entire time, unable to move or even blink. If he had done either, the Indian would have killed him.

At some point he lost consciousness.

When he awakened, the sun was low. He dragged himself to the banks of Onion Creek, washed as much of the blood off as he could, wet the one sock, and placed it atop his head over the area that had been scalped.

He tried to go in the direction of Hornsby's fort but didn't get far. Exhausted, he sat down at the base of a big tree, still naked, and prepared himself to die. He folded his arms and cupped his hands over his privates so whomever found him would not be distressed or disgusted.

Shortly after the sun went down but before true darkness fell, he amazingly saw his sister, Margaret Clifton,  walking toward him. He thought she was still back in Indiana, 700 miles away. She stood in front of him and said "Have no fear, brother Josiah. Help is on the way." She then 'disappeared' going in the direction of Hornsby's fort.

When the two survivors arrived at Hornsby's blockhouse fort, they insisted all others had been killed. All men there tightly closed up the fort and loaded all rifles and pistols in preparation for a possible attack. When darkness fell and there was no attack, the residents relaxed slightly and the Hornsby family went to bed.
 

Soon after falling asleep, Sarah Hornsby abruptly awoke.

She sat up. She'd had a dream. In it she saw Wilbarger--wounded but alive, sitting under a tree. She woke Reuben and told him of the dream.
Reuben didn't put much stock in dreams. He told his wife to go back to sleep. Wilbarger was dead. The survivors saw him killed. He and the boys would go collect the bodies as soon as the sun came up.
 

Sarah went back to sleep. She had the dream again, this time in greater detail. "He's been scalped," she told Reuben. "He's got something on his head-some sort of cloth over where he was scalped."

Reuben again told his wife that dreams meant nothing, and to go back to sleep.
Sarah had the dream a third time, this time in much greater detail. She was able to describe his exact location. Reuben gave in and woke the boys. They dressed, and went out to saddle horses.

"Take the wagon," she told them. "He can't ride." She brought blankets and quilts from the house to pad the wagon's bed.

They found Wilbarger exactly where Sarah Hornsby described from her dream, and he was alive. At the fort, the Hornsby daughters nursed him back to health.

Later, Josiah married one of the daughters, retired from his job as a scout, and operated a cotton gin for the rest of his life.

The skin never grew back over the skull where he'd been scalped. He wore, according to the stories, a silk or quilted skull cap at all times.

Several months into his recovery, Wilbarger received a letter from his family. It had been written months before, soon after his sister "appeared" to him as he lay near death under the tree. Mail service was slow during those early days in Texas.

The sister who appeared to him died the day before he was shot. As he lay unconscious and bleeding on the banks of Onion Creek, she was laid to rest.

When she appeared to him, she was spending her first night in the coffin in her grave. Believe it or not.

Years later, Josiah Wilbarger hit the scalped portion of his head on a low doorframe, fractured his skill, and died.

Josiah Pugh Wilbarger (September 10, 1801 – April 11, 1845)

A legendary early Texan who lived eleven years after being scalped by Comanche Indians.

(The following is found on the back of his tombstone.)

Captain of a Company of the
Mississippi Militia in the War
of 1812. First came to Texas in 1814
In 1818 he was Brigade Major
of Long's Expedition
Returned to Louisiana and
next came to Texas in 1822 with
Stephen F. Austin
Fought in the Battle of
Velasco in 1832
and was a delegate to the
Consultation in 1835

~~*~~

Celia Yeary-Romance...and a little bit 'o Texas

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/celiayeary

 My Website

My Blog

Sweethearts of the West-Blog

My Facebook Page

Sources:

Wikipedia

The Handbook of Texas Online

South Texas Traveler

Texas Tales Your Teacher Never Told You